The head of New Zealand’s largest camping organization answered back at the “incredibly damaging” comments from some people in the freedom camping community over public defecation.
New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) CEO Bruce Lochore said the “bizarre” comments made by Bob Osborne, a spokesman for Responsible Campers Association Inc (RCAI), are an “extreme view” that does not reflect the vast majority of freedom campers.
“We represent 112,000 members who will be horrified by Mr. Osborne’s assertion that his group wants people to poo 50m away from waterways and to bury their droppings at least 15cm below ground,” Lochore said.
He described the comments are “completely irresponsible” and a simple “misguided attempt to oppose the Government’s proposed changes to toughen freedom camping laws,” according to a report.
“They take no account of the views of councils and communities throughout the country,” he said. “No one has fought harder than us over the past decade to actively defend the rights of responsible Kiwi families to freedom camp.”
Lochore said his organization had spent NZ$1.76 million in legal fees as well as spending “countless hours” talking to councils and communities all over Aotearoa about the issues of freedom camping.
“From those discussions, it has become crystal clear that, by and large, communities nationwide aren’t opposed to freedom camping; but they have had a gutful of irresponsible freedom campers,” he said.
Lochore said Osborne’s claims couldn’t have timed worse as the Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash is expected to release new freedom camping proposals due soon.
The NZMCA said proposals are likely to exclude portable toilets from a future definition of the Certified Self-Containment Standard (CSC) and establish and administer authority to monitor clubs and associations.
“Communities have seen this all too often and have lost confidence in the credibility of the Standard, thanks to groups like Mr. Osborne’s issuing a freedom camping certificate that has nothing to do with the Standard and would clearly not meet the anticipated new requirements,” Lochore said.
“Councils and communities are fed up with these irresponsible campers traveling the country in poorly-designed vehicles with inaccessible portable toilets.
“As a result, the public has lost confidence in them, tarnishing the reputation of all vehicles with portable toilets.
“If we want to retain any hope of responsible Kiwi families being able to continue enjoying freedom camping in the years to come, we need to accept the communities’ position and support the Minister’s proposals.”
This article originally appeared on Newshub.